LOTE

The Hellenic Museum

Year 7 beginner and advanced Greek classes visited the Hellenic Museum to explore, with the help of tour guide Evlalia, the exhibit Gods, Myths and Mortals from the renowned Benaki museum in Athens.

This fascinating collection included:

-Neolithic pottery

-Cycladic statues

-Minoan figurines

-Mycenaean jewellery

-Hellenistic sculptures

-Byzantine icons 

-Ancient manuscripts

The museum also displayed:

-Post Byzantine secular art and costumes.

-Neo Hellenic art and weaponry, including ornate swords and pistols belonging to Greek revolutionary heroes Kolokotronis, pre-eminent leader of the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829) against the Ottoman Empire and Mavromichalis, leader of the Maniot people during the first half of the 19th century.

These objects highlight the evolution of history when dynasties reigned, kings conquered, and cities fell.

Through exploring the cultures and technologies of the past students had the opportunity to discover the changing face of the Greek world, while making unexpected connections between times and cultures.

Students viewed the exhibits with great interest and also completed activities on The Art of Magna Graecia, a collection of vases from Athenian black-figure to later red-figure ware from South Italy.

The rich variety of pottery techniques and styles of decoration used in the ancient Greek world kept students focused while exploring the detail of the exhibits.

Ms Dimitra Maniatis

LOTE Coordinator

Excursion to Melbourne CBD

Year 9 Japanese students went on an excursion to the Melbourne CBD to explore Japanese themed food and art.

We stopped at the following places:

First Stop: Japanese Ramen Restaurant

We went to a Kyushu-style Ramen shop for lunch. Ramen is gaining popularity in Melbourne with ramen shops opening around the suburbs. There were a variety of ramen noodles to sample and we enjoyed the tonkotsu (pork broth) and vegetarian ramen.

Students had the opportunity to develop their skills in using chopsticks!

Second Stop: NGV Imari Porcelain

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has extensive artefacts from all around the world including Japanese masterpieces -  Imari Porcelain.

During the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the reclusive island nation of Japan became internationally recognised for one treasured product beyond all others: Imari Porcelain. White porcelain bowls, plates, bottles, utensils and ornamental figurines, exquisitely finished with translucent glazed colours and gold enamels, were distributed throughout Japan and beyond to the cultural centres of Asia and Europe. Decorated with birds and flowers alongside auspicious symbols and mythological animals, Imari ware appealed to the Japanese love of the natural world and belief in the supernatural. Its highly decorative designs, floret shapes and use of gold to enhance exotic colourful motifs enchanted the aristocratic classes of Europe and the rulers of Asian kingdoms.

Third Stop: Melbourne International Film Festival - Okko’s Inn

Japanese Anime arrived in Melbourne at this prestigious film festival and we were lucky to participate in the event.  

We watched the Japanese Anime movie Okko’s Inn. This feature from veteran filmmaker Kitarō Kōsaka follows the adventures of Okko, a young girl dispatched to live in the countryside with her grandmother after her parents die in a car crash. While tending to chores at grandma’s traditional Japanese inn, built atop an ancient spring, Okko befriends a group of mischievous ghosts that only she can see. With the help of her spooky new pals, Okko transforms grandma’s inn and becomes something of a minor celebrity in the process. The animations are a reflection on grief, selflessness and inclusivity, even if your company includes phantom spirits!

Overall, we had a great day, enjoying firsthand the experience of Japanese food, art, and culture.

Mr Hatsu Watanabe

Japanese teacher